United Nations New Human Rights Expert Strong Criticism, North Korea: We Not Acknowledging Special Reporters Only US Dolls

Illustration of North Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Roman Harak)

JAKARTA - North Korea's foreign ministry criticized a new UN human rights expert as bias, saying the country would not tolerate what it called an attempt by the United States (US) leadership to overthrow Pyongyang's regime, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

Elizabeth Salmon, a new UN expert on human rights on North Korea, made her first official visit to South Korea since taking office last month.

In its inauguration statement, Salmon said North Korea's human rights situation had deteriorated, after more than two years of strict action to curb COVID-19.

"We have made clear on our principle that we do not recognize or deal with'special whistleblowers' who are only US dolls," KCNA quoted an unnamed foreign ministry spokesman as saying.

Pyongyang has repeatedly rejected allegations of human rights abuses, criticizing the UN investigation into the matter as a US-backed scheme to interfere in its internal affairs.

"The DPRK will never forgive the US and its 'human rights' racket against the DPRK, which aims to overthrow its social system," the official said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (DPRK).

The UN's separate reports have also recently said North Korea's coronavirus detention measures have exacerbated violations of the country's human rights, citing additional restrictions on access to information, tighter border security, and increased digital surveillance.

Separately, Salmon are scheduled to hold a press conference this Friday.